Prime Montrose site up for grabs — UPDATED

Nearly three-acres smack dab in the center of one of Houston’s most walkable neighborhoods has come on the block.

Located at the southwest corner of Westheimer and Montrose Boulevard, the property houses a half-vacant strip mall. When it was full, Blockbuster Video was one of its busiest tenants.

The site includes a 44,000-square-foot shopping center that was built in 1985. Its tenants are Papa John’s, 3-6-9 China Bistro, Spec’s Liquor and Half Price Books. Jack in the Box is in an adjacent building. Holliday Fengolio Fowler has the listing.

UPDATE: The Greater Houston Preservation Alliance sent us this link, showing the property actually dates back to 1937, when it was the Tower Community Center. Joseph Finger designed the art deco shopping center to complement the Tower Theater.

43 Responses

Wasn’t the shopping center built in the 1930′s or 1940′s? It was tragically covered over by its current hideous exterior in the 1970′s or am I thinking of a different plot of land?

I would wager a lot more money than I currently have that it will end up being torn down and some kind of cheesy 4-5 floor apartment building will end up on top of 2 floors of parking and absolutely ZERO retail will remain there.

Excellent news! That strip has always looked very shabby. With Uchi, Hay Merchant and El Real opening their doors recently and Disco Kroger’s recent facelift, one can only hope that strip center will follow suit and make it a destination worth visiting.

Back in 1960 there was a drug store where the Book Store is now and where Spec’s is, there was a Weingarten’s. And just a little further west on Westheimer was the Tower Theater – aye! the middle of downtown Houston.

Nancy, You may want to confirm the date of that picture. If that is a VW Beetle facing Westheimer toward the left side of the picture, it could not have been taken in 1937 as the caption implies because the first VW Beetle was manufactured in 1938.

I am not sure of the “walkability” factor besides some restaurants, a Walgreens and a Kroger. Adding to the problem is the fact that this location is always a hangout for the homeless, and if I am not mistaken, there are two centers catering to homeless and troubled youth. Not exactly a location I would feel safe walking around, especially after dark.

ULI Houston studied the Montrose and Westheimer intersection a few years back and posted the following report, “Montrose at the Crossroads”. This report is well written and insightful to the issues facing this part of Houston.

The land fund which owns the property purchased the property to eventually sell as a redevelopment opportunity. So, they have been letting leases expire and signing short-term leases. This is increases the value of the land since it will allow the new owner to redevelop without having to buyout leases or wait for leases to expire. Jack-in-the-Box is the only tenant remaining with a long term lease still in place.